Lot 136
Rome. Diocletian, 284-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.33 g), Cyzicus mint, struck c. 285-286 AD. Draped and laureate bust of Diocletian right. Reverse: Jupiter stands frontal with head left, nude but for cloak at shoulder; he holds thunderbolt and scepter; IOVI CONSERVATORI, SC in exergue, followed by star. Cf. Depeyrot 5. Unpublished with this exergue legend and symbol combination. Superb bold strike, finely centered on a virtually round flan. Sharp and highly lustrous -- the fields brilliant. Rare. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated.
Diocletian eventually established the Tetrarchy, a system of ruling this immense empire by an emperor and a junior ruler in the West, and an emperor and his junior in the East. This would establish a thorough government in addition to solving the problem of succession. Diocletian then proclaimed himself Eastern Emperor, Maximian the Western Emperor, and Galerius and Constantius the princes of the East and of the West, respectively. The system worked well, but eventually there would be variations on a theme, with the human elements of jealousy and usurpation taking their toll.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 54.
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| Realized $16,100 |
